Sound recording machine



vApril 1940.", A. RYSICKI 2,195,758

SOUND RECORDING MACHINE mad Sept. 2a, 1937 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 HI -ll WWII! Fig. 1.

INVENTOR ARNO R-Y5ICK ORNEY April 2, 1940. RYSlCK 2,195,758-

SOUND RECORDING MACHINE Filed Sept. 28, 1937 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 lNVENTOR ARNO RYSICK ATTORNE 9 April 2, 1940. A. RYSICK SOUND RECORDING MACHINE Filed Sept. 28, 1937 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Q R m mw Am M w IO A N R A Arno Ryllch Dresden, Germany Application September 2a, 1931, Serial No. 166,132

Germany October In Great Britain and 6 Claims. (CI. 274-4 This invention relates to a sound recording and reproducing machine, and refers more particularly to a device, adapted to be used in connection with a disc-recording apparatus, for automatically raising the sound-box of the apparatus when the entire recording surface of .the disc has been inscribed.

Disc-recording and reproducing machines of the type described, for example, in my United States Letters Patent No. 2,067,347, issued January 12, 1937, comprise a tum-table adapted to support a recording-disc, and a sound box carrier which is movable along a guide by any suitable,

preferably electrical, mechanism, and which .is

provided with a combination recording and reproducing tool, such as a sound box carrying a recording stylus and a reproducing needle, the recording and reproducing functions of the tool being alternately controlled by a change-over means.

With such machines, and also with disc gramophones of other types, it often occurs that the person in charge of the machine atthe time when the sound is being recorded, for example, the person dictating into the machine, does not notice that the entire recording surface of the disc upon the turn-table has been inscribed. When that has happened, the sound-box, which is supported by its carrier, tends to continue its movement along the guide, although the recording stylus can no longer continue its movement within the rooves of the disc. The recording stylus, which is usually made of diamond or of other very-hard stone, then continues to press or cut the disc at one and the same place, with the final result that a hole'is formed in that disc, which then breaks in half. Thus, the disc is irreparably damaged, regardless of whether the carrier is movable over the disc in the direction toward the center thereof or in the opposite direction.

Attempts to eliminate this drawback by providing a bell which rings at the time when the recording of adisc is practically completed have been unsuccessful, since a person dictating into the machine often does not'notice the bell.

I An object of the present invention is the provision of simple and effectively operating means for automatically lifting the recording stylus from the surface of the disc as soon as the entire recording surface of the disc has been inscribed by thestylus.

Another object is the provision of automatic stylus-raising means which are sturdy in construction and simple in operation, and which will not interfere with the return movement of the stylus-carrier into its original operative position.

Other objects are obvious or will be apparent during the course of the following specification.

The objects of the present invention may be realized through the provision of a steering or 5 guiding device by means of which the recording stylus is automatically raised from the groove of the disc. This guiding device comprises preferably one or more stops, projections, cams, or the like, which are engaged by the stylus or the stylus-supporting means upon the completion of the inscription of the disc.

This device may consist also of a combination of levers which cooperate with the means moving the sound box which carries the recording stylus over the disc.

In accordance with a preferred construction, a system of levers is situated within the hollow sound box carrier, which is pivotally connected with the sound box. This system of levers is so arranged that one of its ends engages the sound box and raises it from the groove of the disc, when its other end is brought into engagement at a predetermined position of the sound box with a stop, cam, roller, or other suitable elementcarried by the frame of the machine, the system of levers being actuated by said element. The return movement of the lever system to its original position may be caused by springs.

Due to this arrangement, the recording stylus is automatically raised from the groove of the disc only after the recording surface has been filled, while the stylus remains in the recording position from the time when the recording has begun to the time when the recording of the disc 35 is completed.

A suitable engaging member may be provided upon the sound box, said member being engaged by the end of the lever system for the purpose of raising the stylus and being of such shape that P. raising is possible only when the sound box is in the recording position, that is, only when the recording stylus and not the reproducing needle is in engagement with the groove of the disc.

The invention will appear more clearly from the I following detailed description when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings showing by way of example a preferred embodiment of the inventive idea.

In the drawings:

Figures 1 and 2 are front and side views,

I respectively, of a machine constructed in accordv ance with the principles of the present invention;...

Figure 3 is a section through a portion of the sound recording and reproducing machine with f some parts shown in elevation, the recording stylus being shown in its operative position;

Figure 4 is a detailed side elevation showing the upper portion of alever actuating the stylusraising device in its inoperative position;

Figure 5 is a rear view of the device shown in Figure 4;'

Figure 6 shows the lower portion of the same lever in side elevation in an inoperative position;

Figure '7 is a rear view of the lower portion of the lever in the same position; I

Figure 8 is similar to Figure 3 and shows the recording stylus in its raised position;

Figure 9 is similar to Figure 4 and shows the upper portion of the lever in its operative position;

Figure ll is similar to Figure 6 and shows the lower portion of the lever in its operative position;

Figure 12 is a rear view of the portion of the lever shown in Figure 11;

Figure 13 shows the sound box in front elevation-in its recording position; and

Figure 14 is similar to Figure 13 and shows the sound box in the reproducing position.

The sound recording and reproducing machine shown in the drawings comprises a frame or lid l5 having two openings I6 and I1. A turn-table l8, which carries a recording disc or record I9, is situated within the opening IT. The tumtable I8 is provided with a rim 20, which is used to hold the disc l9 upon the table.

A shaft 2| supports the turn-table l8 and is provided with a cushioned centering bolt 22 enthe opening I 6 of the lid l5 and which is mounted upon and in engagement with the feed-screw 25. Due to this arrangement, the rotation of the feed-screw 25 is translated into a movement of the carrier 26 in a direction perpendicular to the plane of Figures 3 and 4. The guide shaft 28 also extends through the lower portion 21 of the carrier. 26.

The end 29 of the carrier 26 is bifurcated and embraces another guiding shaft 30.

The carrier 26 is provided with a hollow central portion 3| containing a switching device 32. which is described in detail in my said U. S. .Letters Patent No. 2,067,347. By the manipulation of this switching device, the sound box 33 is caused to move from the position shown in Figure 13,

' in which the recording stylus 34 is in contact with the disc IE), to the position shown in Figure 14, in which the reproducing needle 3.5 is in contact with the disc iii.

Figure 10 is a rear view of the device in the I position shown in Figure 9;

connected to an elongated member 33 rigidly at tached to the sound box 33.

The sound box 33 contains the usual diaphragm and is of standard construction. It comprises a holder 33 for the recording stylus 34, consisting of diamond, sapphire, or some other very hard stone, as well as of a holder 40 for the reproducing needle 35.

The above-described construction is substantially of' the same type as the one described in my copending patent application, filed September 28, 1937, Serial No. 166,131.-

The device for raising the sound box 33, which embodies the principles of the present invention, comprises a'lever 4| which is mounted intermediate its ends upon a pivot 42 carried somewhat above the lid l5 by the lower portion 21 of the sound box carrier 26.

The upper portion of the lever 4| is illustrated in greater detail in Figures 4, 5, 9, and 10 of the drawings. This upper portion comprises a slot 43 through which a bolt 44 extends. The bolt 44 is held within the slot 43 by means. of the 'nut 45.

A shaft 46 is situated in a bore hole formed in the upper portion 36 of the sound box carrier 26. The shaft is slidable in the direction of its axis within the bore hole. The inner end 41 of the shaft 46 is bifurcated and embraces one end of the bolt 44. The end 41 of the shaft 46 is maintained in engagement with the bolt 44 by meansof a coiled spring 48 which surroundsthis end of the shaft and one end of which presses against the wall 43 of the carrier 26. The opposite end of the coiled spring 48 is connected with a pin 50, which is carried by the shaft 46.,

The front portion 5| of the shaft 46 is somewhat smaller in diameter and is adiustably connected by a bolt. 52 with an angle-iron or arm 53, which is provided with a wedge-shaped front portion 54.

The front portion 54 of the arm 53 may be brought into engagement with a roller 55 rotatably mounted upon a pin or pivot 56, which is connected by means of a bolt 51 to the sound box 33.

As shown in Figures 13 and 14, the roller 55 is conical in shape, the diameter of the cone increasing in a direction away from the sound box 33.

The lower portion of the lever 4| has the form of an angle 51 and carries a bolt 58obliquely disposed with respect to the lever 4|.

The bolt 58 may be brought into engagement with a roller 59 rotatable around a pivot 60- which is held by means of a screw 6| upon an angle-iron 62 attached to the frame i5 ofthe machine.

The roller 59 is positioned so as to be engaged by the bolt 58 at the end of the movement of the sound box carrier 26, i. e., at the time when. the inscription of the record I9 has been completed.

The device operates as follows:

The disc H! is placed upon the turn-table l8 and then the motor 24 is actuated to cause a rotation of the turn-table. The device 32 is actuated to cause the recording stylus 34 to engage the outer groove upon the disc l9. Due to the rotation of the -feed-screw,25, the sound box carrier 26 and the sound box 33 are moved slowly over the surface of the rotating disc i9.

In the device shown in the drawings, the carrier 26 and the sound box 33 are moved in a di- 4 rection from the outside of the disc l9 to the cen- 3,105,758 ter thereof during the recording period, although, swing downward and the reproducing needle 35 obviously, a reverse arrangement may be used.

'I'heuserattachesthe tubetothenippic 31 and proceeds to dictate into the machine, the voice of the speaker being translated by means of the sound box 33 into movements of the stylus 34 which are recorded within the grooves of the disc ll.

' In the course of the recording period, the stylus-raising device is situated in its inoperative position, shown in Figures 3 to 'I of the drawings. In this position, the lever 4| is in a substantially vertical position and the end I4 of the'arm 53 which is connected to the shaft 46, is out of engagement with the roller I! carried by the sound box 33. At the same time, the bolt 531s out of engagement with the roller 83, the position of which is fixed in relation to the lid ll of the machine by means of the angle-iron 33.

However, the roller I3 is so placed that the bolt II strikes the roller as soon as the entire record I! has been inscribed by the stylus 34 and when the stylus is in engagement with the innermost groove upon the disc is.

When the bolt it strikes the roller 59, the lever 4i is caused to swing around its pivot 42. This swinging movement of the lever 4| is made possible by the provision of the opening 83 in the lower portion 21 of the carrier 26. Thus the lever 4| is moved into the position shown in Figure 8 of the drawings. The shaft 46 is then caused to move in the direction of the arrow 84 due to the contact of the bolt with the end 4'! of the shaft. The spring 48 is compr'essed and the front portion 54 of the arm 53 is brought into engagement with the roller 55 which is carried by the soimd box 33.

Due to the wedge shape of the end portion 54 of the arm 53, this portion is moved underneath the roller 55 and presses the roller upward, with the result that the sound box 33 swings upwardly around the ball and socket joint 33a. The stylus 34 is thus raised from the disc I.

It will be noted that as soon as the carrier 28 is moved away from its end position, the engagement between the bolt 53 and the roller 59 is interrupted and then the spring 43 will expand again, moving the lever 4| back into the position shown in Figure 3, and thereby withdrawing the end 54 of the arm 53 from engagement with the roller I5. Then the solmd box 33 will drop back again into the operative position shown in Figure 3.

It will be noted that the sound box 33 is raised by the arm 53 only when the sound box 33 is in its recording position, which is shown in Figure 13. When the sound box 33 is in its reproducing pomtion, shown in Figure 14, the device will not raise the sound box at the end of the movement of the carrier 26, due to the conical shape of the roller I5. This roller is of such form, that a space is left between the end 54 of the arm 53 and the roller 3' when the sound box 33 is in the inclinod position shown in Figure 14. Therefore, if the sound box 33 is in that position, a forward movement of the arm 53 will not cause engagement between the end 54 of the arm and the roller II and will not move the sound box 33. Furthermore, if the sound box is in the raised position shown in Figure 8 and if the device 32 isthenoperatedtoswingthesoundboxintoits reproducing position shown in Figure 14, the engagement between the end 54 and the roller 53 willbemterrupted,sothatthe soundbox 33 will will engage the grooves of the disc is.

By means of the described construction, the sound box 33 is automatically raised as soon as the recording of a disc has been completed.

It is apparent that the specific illustration shown above has been given by way of illustration and not by way of limitation, and that the structure above described is subject to wide variation and modification without departing from the scope or intent of the invention, all of which variations and modifications are to be included within the scope of the present invention.

What is claimed is:

1. In a recording machine, a stylus adapted to engage a recording disc, a sound box carrying said stylus, a carrier, said sound box being swingably connected with said carrier, means connected with said carrier for moving the same relatively to said disc, a shaft slidably mounted in said carrier, a projecting member carried by saidsound box, means connected with one end of I stylus oi! the surface of said disc, a lever pivotally mounted within said carrier, means coupling one end of said lever with the other end of said shaft, means connected with the opposite end of said lever and projecting outside of said carrier, a frame and a projecting member fixed to said frame and adapted to be engaged by the lastmentioned means to actuate said lever and thereby move said shaft to cause the second-mentioned means to swing said sound box and thereby raise said stylus.

2. In a recording machine, a stylus adapted to engage a recording disc, a sound box carrying said stylus, a carrier, said sound box being swingably connected with said carrier, means connected with said carrier for moving the same relatively to said disc, a shaft slidably mounted in said carrier, a projecting member carried by said sound box, means connected with one end of said shaft and adapted to engage said member to swing said sound box and thereby raise said stylus on the surface of said disc, a lever pivotaliy mounted within said carrier, means coupling one end of saidlever with the other end of said shaft. means connected with the opposite end of said lever and projecting outside of said carrier,. a frame, a projecting member fixed to said frame and adapted to be engaged by said system of levers to actuate the same and thereby move said shaft to cause the second-mentioned means to swing said sound box and thereby raise said stylus. and resilient means engaging said shaft and said carrier for returning said shaft and said lever to their original positions and thereby free ing the first mentioned projecting member from tioned member with one end of said shaft, a lever pivotaliy mounted within said carrier, means coupling one end of said lever with the other -75 end of said shaft, means connected with the opposite end of said lever and projecting outside of said carrier, a frame, and a projecting member fixed to said frame and adapted to be engaged by the last-mentioned means to actuate said lever and thereby move said shaft to cause the secondmentioned member to swing said sound box and thereby raise said stylus.

4. In a recording and reproducing machine, a stylus adapted to engage a recording disc to inscribe the same, a sound box carrying said stylus and movable from a recording position to a reproducing position, a carrier, means connected with said carrier for moving the same relatively to said disc', means carried'by said carrier and adapted to engage said. sound box when the latter in in its recording position to raise said stylus off said disc, means preventing the engagement of the, second-mentioned means with said sound box, when the latter is in its reproducing position, the last-mentioned means swingably connecting said sound box with said carrier, and means engaging the second-mentioned means and operating the same. 1

5. In a recording machine, 'a stylus adapted to' engage a recording disc, a sound box carrying said stylus, a carrier, said sound box being swingably connected with saidcarrier, means connected with said carrier for moving the same relatively to said disc, a shaft slidably mounted in said carrier, a roller carried by said sound box, an

arm connected with one end of said .shaft and having a wedge-shaped end adapted to engage said roller to swing said sound box and thereby raise said stylus off the surface of said disc, a lever pivotally mounted within said carrier, means coupling one end of said lever with the other end of said shaft, means connected with the opposite end of said lever and projecting out-'- side-of said carrier, a frame and a projecting member fixed to said frame and adapted to be engaged by the last-mentioned means to actuate said lever and thereby move said shaft to cause the second-mentioned member to swing said sound box and thereby raise said stylus.

6. In a recording and reproducing machine, a stylus adapted to engage a recording disc to inscribe the same, a sound box carrying said stylus, a carrier, means swingably connecting said sound box with said carrier, whereby said sound box is movable from a recording position to a reproducing position, means connected with said carrier for moving the same relatively to said disc, a roller carried by said sound box, an arm having a wedge-shaped end adapted to engage said roller solely when the latter is in its recording position to raise said stylus off'sai'd disc; means carried by said carrier and connected with said arm for actuating the same, means engaging the last-mentioned means and oper'-. 

